Momentum turns for Silver Stars in New York minute

Guard Becky Hammon looks to pass around the New York Liberty’s Kia Vaughn during Tuesday night’s 77-66 Silver Stars victory at the AT&T Center. A 22-9 fourth quarter fueled the win.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars’ Danielle Robinson looks for room against New York at the AT&T Center. She had a team-high 21 points.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Shameka Christon (20) gets tangled up with New York's Plenette Pierson (right) while trying to collect a rebound during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Becky Hammon (25) puts up a lay-up during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

San Antonio Silver Stars' Sophia Young (33) takes a shot during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New york Liberty on September 18, 2012 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio Texas.
John Albright / Special to the Express-News.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Becky Hammon chases down a loose ball during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' head coach Dan Hughes (right) talks with Sophia Young on the bench during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' head coach Dan Hughes (right) talks with Sophia Young on the bench during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Danielle Adams (23) drives into the lane past New York's Kia Vaughn (left) during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Becky Hammon (25) is fouled as she takes a shot during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

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The San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty players battle for a rebound during a WNBA game on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

Silver Stars' head coach Dan Hughes (right) talks with Jia Perkins during a time-out during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Danielle Adams (23) takes a shot over New York's Kia Vaughn (left) during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Danielle Robinson (13) drives to the basket during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Danielle Robinson (13) takes a shot during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Danielle Robinson (13) takes a shot during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Becky Hammon (25) drives around New York's Cappie Pondexter (right) during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Sophia Young (33) takes a shot during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Photo By John Albright/For the Express-News

The Silver Stars' Danielle Robinson (13) takes an uncontested lay-up on a fast break during a WNBA game between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the AT&T Center.

Shameka Christon said it wasn't personal. She said playing against the team that three years ago traded her away no longer brings the “hard feelings” it once did.

For the Silver Stars, though, it was personal. They were tired of their recent struggles. They needed to return to the ways and mindset that earlier this season spurred a franchise-best winning streak.

The fourth quarter of Tuesday's 77-66 victory over the New York Liberty before 6,650 fans at the AT&T Center was exactly what they were looking for.

The Silver Stars (20-12) limited the Liberty to nine points and 4-of-17 shooting in the final quarter en route to recording the franchise's third 20-win season and the first since 2008.

“Some of the best defense we've played all year, against a team that's been playing well,” Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. “It was a lot of fun to watch us defend that fourth quarter.''

Trailing 57-55 entering the final period, the Silver Stars used a 22-6 run to take control. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Christon and Becky Hammon just 30 seconds apart gave the Silver Stars a 63-59 lead they wouldn't lose. Hammon scored eight of her 12 points in the fourth.

“They were hitting shots and clicking on all cylinders, and we really could not contain the ball or stop them,” New York centerKara Braxton said.

More specifically, the Liberty (14-18), who are battling Chicago for the Eastern Conference's final playoff berth, couldn't slow down Danielle Robinson and Christon.

Robinson tallied 21 points, five rebounds and five assists, and was tasked with defending New York's Cappie Pondexter. Robinson had 14 points through three quarters. Christon finished with 17, including five 3-pointers.

“I just wanted to come out and be a spark,” Robinson said. “We start games a little flat, so I wanted to make sure we didn't. With Cappie being at point, I had to be aggressive defensively, and it turned into offense.”

Christon was the biggest benefactor. She scored 12 first-half points, making four 3-pointers, to keep the Silver Stars in contention on a night in which Sophia Young and Hammon struggled offensively. Young, who had 10 rebounds and five steals, shot 1 of 11. Hammon was 3 of 9, with her last basket — a 28-footer with six seconds remaining — putting her in double figures.

“My job was to knock down shots, so that's what I did,” Christon said. “At the end of the day, my focus — which I can speak for the whole team — is we're trying to get back to playing really good basketball for 40 minutes.”

The Silver Stars did as much, especially during the game's final 10 minutes. Now, they look to continue their newfound edge when they close the regular season Friday at Seattle and with a home game Sunday against Minnesota.

“We had to get some momentum going into the playoffs,” Robinson said. “We took a little step backward (in Sunday's loss) against Tulsa. We knew we had to bounce back.''